Uomo Born in Roma by Valentino

Uomo Born in Roma was a fragrance that I’ve overlooked since its release in 2019. I really didn’t know anything about the way it smelled going in and I liked the Uomo series from this brand. As such, I was intrigued to finally give it a try. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it even worth a try?

What does Uomo Born in Roma Smell Like?

Notes include: ginger, salt, mineral notes, sage, vetiver, violet leaf 

Click here to try: Valentino Uomo Born In Roma EDT 3.4 oz / 100 ml Men’s Spray 

My Full Review

Upon first spraying Born in Roma, I am amazed at how much this mimics the Invictus line of scents. Mainly, the original Invictus and Invictus Aqua. Roma has that same artificial candy-like sweetness.

The difference is, it is toned down in the Valentino and there aren’t any citrus notes, as in Invictus. Instead, this one gives me a very prominent mineral accord (like mineral oil’s smell) and violet leaf (which is also in Invictus Aqua).

Beyond that, some light ginger, salt, and some sage also come through. It’s not an aquatic, but all the notes do come together for that very similar Paco Rabanne-like fragrance. The mineral accord is the equivalent of the Invictus ambergris.

As it dries down further, Born in Roma begins to take on its own personality. Less of that candy-like sweetness and more of a soapy/fresh clean scent. The main notes that I get throughout are: violet leaf, mineral accord, vetiver, and wood. 

It is an interesting transformation, but it doesn’t really develop beyond that. Up top is the mass appeal of an Invictus sort of cologne. Then, the really fresh and outdoorsy clean of notes like violet leaf and vetiver.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Born in Roma opens up pretty strong. It’ll project probably 5-8 feet from the skin, at first, before moving in to the 3-4 foot range. Overall, above average but fairly moderate. 

The longevity seems to fall in the 7-8.5 hour range. That’s what I got the first time I wore it. The second time, I started to get a headache and nausea, a few minutes after I sprayed it on. Maybe this stuff was the trigger?

Either way, I scrubbed it off. But, I will say, based on how difficult it was to scrub off my skin the performance should be quite good. 

Mainly, this would be a spring or summer fragrance. It could venture into more moderate temperatures, but would feel out of place in the wintertime.

Born in Roma skews younger. It is more of a casual fragrance, nightlife, and the like. I wouldn’t wear this to the office or a formal occasion. More maturity than Invictus, but not that much more.

Overall Impressions of Born in Roma

Overall, do I like this scent? It’s not terrible, but it’s not one that I’d want to wear. It’s not an Invictus clone, but there is so much overlap with the aroma. I’m pretty sick of smelling these same sorts of colognes over and over again.

That being said, if it’s your type of fragrance, you might really enjoy this one. The drydown is much better in my opinion, than that opening act. I’m not a huge violet leaf fan, but I like the vetiver and woods in the base.

The performance is solid and it will certainly have some appeal for the public. I’d probably try to find a bottle at a discount, because it’s overpriced at Valentino retail costs.

Best Men's Colognes

Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.